Lynn Southward’s wooden ornaments add a special touch to the holiday.

Thursday

Dec 20, 2012 at 12:24 PMDec 20, 2012 at 12:30 PM

By Myndi Milliken

This story first appeared in the Holiday 2012 edition of Lenawee magazine.

Each year, when the weather grows chilly and leaves begin their descent to the ground, Lynn Southward — like many of us — gets the urge to walk along wooded paths and enjoy what the fall season has to offer. But while we might look to the changing colors of the trees or signs of wintering birds, Southward’s eyes are glued to the ground, searching for the beginning of a very special Christmas ornament.

Southward looks for acorns. He uses the tops, the “hats,” to make wooden replicas of the nuts for ornaments.

“You can’t use the bottoms of the acorns because they always have some little bug that bores a hole in them,” Southward says. “I make new wooden bottoms and I use the natural top with a coating of sealant.”

The result is a diminutive yet appealing ornament — and one that will last.

Southward, an award-winning wood craftsman, began making the ornaments about seven years ago after seeing wooden ornaments at a craft show. Having grown from a custom cabinet and furniture maker to also producing specialty gifts, he thought the ornaments answered a call to clients seeking one-of-a-kind items for holiday gifts as well.

Southward’s artistic talent for shaping wood doesn’t stop with tiny ornaments. He utilizes more than 20 woods, local and exotic, to design and make a variety of items — most which are functional as well.

From a rolling pin with an intricate raised celtic knot to bowls with eye-catching colors and patterns, Southward’s gift shop will not disappoint the shopper with unique tastes looking for a gift that is like no other.

“From small to large, we have anything and everything because his workmanship is wonderful and the quality of his pieces is unbelievable,” says Bruni Culver of Adrian. “Lynn has done a lot of work for us, from rebuilding our kitchen to creating custom glass cases. There’s something for everyone at his shop.”

Bill Cremean of Blissfield says he has always enjoyed having “items that start a conversation” and became a regular customer of Southward for his unique gifts.

“I also share an interest in woodworking, so I appreciate the one-of-a-kind aspect of what he makes,” Cremean says. “Lynn always challenges himself to be different, and so many of the woods he uses in the ornaments are woods you probably have never heard of before. It’s not something you can just go to the local store and buy.”

Cremean, who has an assortment of Southward’s ornaments, also has contracted Southward for custom-built items, such as a cutting board for the sink.

“I wanted something no one else had, something that was colorful,” Cremean says. “Lynn made it out of three different woods and it’s beautiful and it has lasted. He makes things that aren’t just pretty to look at — they are useful.”

Southward’s desire to bring functionality to gifts that also qualify as art (he signs and dates every handcrafted bowl as well as other items) comes from his beginnings crafting wood as a child.

“I used to scrap wood as a kid and make stuff like knives or a box for my fishing rod,” Southward said. “When I was out of school I worked for a company making kitchen cabinets and I decided to start my own business in 1968 — I had five hundred dollars in the bank, a wife, a baby, a car payment and a house, but it was the best thing I ever did.”

Now, with 44 years of successfully operating his business primarily focused on home remodeling and custom-built furniture, Southward said he’s slowing down.“My favorite thing now is working on the wood lathe creating artistic turnings such as bowls, plates and hollow vessels,” Southward says.

While some people may have trouble switching from architecture to artistic style, Southward has embraced it and shows an incredible talent. He was won multiple awards and has garnered quite a following for his pieces.

“When we take the ornaments to the shows, we have a hard time keeping them on the rack,” Southward says. “It’s a wonderful feeling when customers call on you, asking for a special item to be made or asking what’s new.”

His work can also be seen in local woodcarver shows and venues such as Art-A-Licious in Adrian.

“It’s something I’ve just always loved to do,” Southward says. “I enjoy seeing the grain of the wood, and being able to make something beautiful out of an ugly piece of wood is satisfying.”